Shloka 15
तारकपीडितदेवशरणागतिḥ — The Devas Seek Refuge from Tāraka
तेन नस्तारकेणेदं सकलं भुवनत्रयम् । हृतं हठाज्जगद्धातः पापेनाकरुणात्मना
tena nastārakeṇedaṃ sakalaṃ bhuvanatrayam | hṛtaṃ haṭhājjagaddhātaḥ pāpenākaruṇātmanā
يا خالقَ العوالم! إنّ تارَكا الآثم—قاسيَ القلب عديمَ الرحمة—قد اغتصب منّا قسرًا هذا الكونَ الثلاثيَّ بأسره.
The Devas (gods), addressing Brahma (Jagaddhata)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It shows how adharma, when empowered by ego and cruelty, can overrun the three worlds—prompting the devas to seek refuge in higher divine order, ultimately fulfilled through Shiva’s grace and the restoration of dharma.
The devas’ helplessness points to the need for taking refuge in Saguna Shiva—the compassionate Lord who responds to sincere surrender. In the Purana’s flow, such crises culminate in Shiva’s manifest intervention, which Linga-worship ritually remembers as the ever-present protector.
A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) expressed through japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with simple Shiva-upāsanā such as offering water to the Linga and wearing/remembering Rudrākṣa as a vow of protection and devotion.